Describe the political life of pre-Islamic Arabs

Answer Details

The political life of the Arabs before Islam (the period of Jahiliyyah) was disorganised and unstable. Its main features are described below.

1. Absence of a central government: Arabia had no single ruler or unified state. The peninsula was divided among numerous independent tribes, each governing its own affairs.
2. Tribal system: The tribe (qabilah) was the basic political unit. Loyalty was to one's tribe, and each tribe was led by a chief (Shaykh or Sayyid) chosen for his age, wisdom, bravery and generosity. His authority rested on influence rather than force.
3. Rule by council: Important matters were decided by a council of elders. In Makkah, the Quraysh managed affairs through an assembly (Dar an-Nadwah) and shared responsibilities such as the custody of the Ka'bah and the feeding and watering of pilgrims.
4. Constant warfare: Tribes were frequently at war over pasture, water, honour and blood revenge. Some conflicts, such as the wars of Basus and Fijar, lasted for years.
5. Law of retaliation and no fixed justice: There was no organised system of justice. Wrongs were avenged by the family or tribe, often leading to endless feuds.
6. The sacred months and Haram: Fighting was forbidden during certain sacred months and within the sanctuary of Makkah, which gave brief periods of peace for trade and pilgrimage.
7. Foreign influence at the borders: The kingdoms of Ghassan (under Byzantine influence) in the north and Hirah (under Persian influence) in the north-east were client states, while the interior remained free.

This weak and divided political condition was one of the reasons the Arabs needed the unifying message of Islam.